Yahaya Bello Takes Oath of Office, Appoints Commissioner-nominees

As Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello,  took oath of office for the second term, he  called on  all and sundry,  friends and perceived foes to put aside all differences of politics, ideology or affiliation and joined hands with his administration in order to provide the state good governance in his second term in office.

Bello, who made the call on Monday in Lokoja shortly after taking the oath of office administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, as the fourth governor of the state, assured the people that his second term would bring a revitalised energy in delivering refocused governance, calling on the people to support the government in achieving its ‘laudable programmes’ for state development.

According to Bello, "My primary allegiance as the state governor will remain to Kogi State and its citizens, not to the party or tribe. Everyone is my citizen, and I owe every one the protections and fidelities inherent in the office.

"It is on this note that I enjoined all Kogites to look forward to the next four years with optimism and great expectation. We will do everything in our powers as government to make sure that the state is productive, prosperous and peaceful."

The governor stated further that his mission for the state in his second term is to sustain focus on agriculture for improved food security, mass employment and increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), adding that agricultural revolution which he kick-started in the first term would be taken to the next level of development.

He said: "Specifically, rice, cassava, cashew, aquaculture and livestock will remain the state rock of our activities in the agriculture sector.

"Aside agriculture, we are also going to pay greater attention to human capital development by investing more in training our people for enhanced relevance in a technologically evolving future.

"We will embark on large scale urban renewal projects that would further transform Lokoja into a resilient capital city with modern utilities attractive to tourists."

The governor, therefore, appealed to the people of the state to give their cooperation and support to his government by ensuring that there is peace and adequate security of lives and property in the state to enable the government transformed the state.

Meanwhile, Bello has announced the names of commissioner-nominees, saying their names would be forwarded to the state House Assembly for screen and subsequent confirmation.

The commissioner-nominees are Mohammed Sani, Asiwaju Ashiru, Abubakar Ohere,

David Akpeh, Joseph Baron, David Oniye, Idris Musa, Wemi Jones, Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo, Ozigi Barrister, Abdulnumini Danga, Saka Haruna, Adewale Victor Omofaye,  Hajiya Fatimah Aliyu and Gabriel Yunisa Olofu.

No fewer than 10 governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) ruling states graced the inauguration of Bello for second term in office, which took place at the Glass House in Government House in Lokoja yesterday.